Medicare has not cut costs

Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 5, 2009 at 4:13 p.m.

To The Editor: I want to point out to those supporting "Obamacare," who say that Medicare is a successfully run government "socialized medicine" system and also insist that its inefficiencies and fraud can be wrung out to produce billions in savings, you can't have it both ways. You can't even have it one way!

First, every year, Medicare raises its monthly premium and further compensates for increased costs by adjusting its payments to hospitals and doctors downward. In effect Medicare transfers its increased costs to private Medicare Supplement insurers who are forced to raise their premiums to seniors to cover their additional costs. You call this a successful government run system?

Second, assuming that the government adjusts Medicare each year by rational means, it appears that they are already attempting to squeeze out inefficiencies and fraud. Do you believe that further efforts will produce billions in savings?

I am a retired senior and Medicare parts A, B and D provide me with wonderful insurance for which I am very grateful to the taxpayers who provide it. But I would hardly brag about it as a model for the future that will "not increase costs by a dime" or "bend the cost curve downward".

<p>To The Editor: I want to point out to those supporting "Obamacare," who say that Medicare is a successfully run government "socialized medicine" system and also insist that its inefficiencies and fraud can be wrung out to produce billions in savings, you can't have it both ways. You can't even have it one way!</p><p>First, every year, Medicare raises its monthly premium and further compensates for increased costs by adjusting its payments to hospitals and doctors downward. In effect Medicare transfers its increased costs to private Medicare Supplement insurers who are forced to raise their premiums to seniors to cover their additional costs. You call this a successful government run system?</p><p>Second, assuming that the government adjusts Medicare each year by rational means, it appears that they are already attempting to squeeze out inefficiencies and fraud. Do you believe that further efforts will produce billions in savings?</p><p>I am a retired senior and Medicare parts A, B and D provide me with wonderful insurance for which I am very grateful to the taxpayers who provide it. But I would hardly brag about it as a model for the future that will "not increase costs by a dime" or "bend the cost curve downward".</p><p>Al Mercer</p><p>Brevard</p>